Jens Pulver will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame soon. Pulver was honoured into the Pioneer Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame at the 11th annual UFC International Fight Week in Las Vegas on Saturday's UFC 284 broadcast. The 48-year-old Pulver, who owns historic victories against B.J. Penn, Caol Uno, and Joe Stevenson, was the first lightweight champion of the UFC. Pulver, a professional fighter since 1999, rose to prominence as the symbol of the smaller weight classes at a time when the UFC didn't actively push a division below 170 pounds. The company didn't have a lightweight title until Pulver defeated Uno at UFC 30. Before making a comeback and coaching The Ultimate Fighter 5 opposite Penn, Pulver continued to fight outside of the UFC, taking on the finest fighters in the world. The careers of Nate Diaz, Gray Maynard, and Joe Lauzon, among others, were all launched during that season. "Lil' Evil" broke new ground again when he dropped to featherweight and brought his star power to the young World Extreme Cagefighting organisation. With a 27-19-1 record after competing for the UFC, WEC, PRIDE, ONE Championship, and other significant promotions, Pulver retired in 2013. He joins MMA greats like Royce Gracie, Randy Couture, and Ken Shamrock in the Pioneer Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame.

Conor McGregor seemed to have been very impressed with the battle that took place in Perth, which drew many members of the MMA community to their feet during the Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski UFC 284 match. In a match to determine the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Alexander Volkanovski, the featherweight champion, moved up in weight to face lightweight king Islam Makhachev at UFC 284, but he ultimately lost. In Volkanovski's category, an interim championship was also granted in the co-main event when Yair Rodriguez defeated the very tenacious Josh Emmett. Given that he was the champion at both 145 pounds and 155 pounds, Conor McGregor usually has some sort of remark or comment to make whenever a significant bout takes place in either of these weight classes. The Irishman praised all of the fighters on Twitter as well as the enthusiastic Australian audience. The majority of fans, like him, agreed that despite Makhachev's defeat, Volkanovski did not lose any popularity among them. Given the relationship Conor McGregor has with Islam Makhachev's training partner and close buddy Khabib Nurmagomedov, as well as the Irishman's original mockery of this contest, this tweet received a lot more good feedback than some might have anticipated. This demonstrates how spectacular both men's performances were and why they are the top pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.

Yair Rodriguez left the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia after UFC 284 with gold around his waist. He has often displayed flashes of potential worthy of a title. He pulled everything together on Saturday night in Perth. In the opening round, the 30-year-old kicked and punched his way through Josh Emmett's body. The opening stanza of the match between the two featherweights was thrilling, with Emmett fending off Rodriguez's assault and securing a takedown in the second. That didn't stop Rodriguez, though. In the opening round, he immediately resumed his aggressive offensive style. After dueling with Emmett on the feet, he eventually made him resort to his ground attack once more. He was ready this time with a skillfully executed triangle choke that resulted in the victory and the interim belt. Rodriguez gave a fantastic performance that could solidify him as a serious challenger to Alexander Volkanovski in the featherweight division. That's wonderful news for the 145-pound division given his position in the main event vying for the lightweight title.

Islam Makhachev won a tightly contested match against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 on Saturday. The reigning lightweight champion came into the fight as the favorite, largely due to his superior wrestling skills. However, it was Makhachev's striking and toughness that helped him edge out Volkanovski in the end. The fight was a back-and-forth battle, with Makhachev in control for much of the bout but never close to finishing. He fought a smart and controlled fight, using his wrestling to stay safe and his striking to maintain the advantage. In the end, Makhachev won by a thin margin, with scores of 48-47 twice and 49-46. Volkanovski, the current featherweight champion, was disappointed with the loss. He acknowledged that he could have done more and underestimated Makhachev's striking abilities. On the other hand, Makhachev proclaimed himself as the best fighter in the world and has a chance to have a long reign as the lightweight champion. Volkanovski, who is likely to return to featherweight, will have his eyes on Makhachev's future fights, eager for a second chance to prove his worth. Makhachev has struggled with the 155-pound weight limit, and it's likely that his title reign will be short-lived. A move to welterweight is in his future, which will be disappointing as he and Volkanovski have a style that brings the best out of each other. If this fight was their last in the Octagon, at least fans can be thankful for the nail-biting bout they witnessed.

In the highly anticipated boxing match between Adam Azim and Santos Reyes, the two fighters put on a thrilling show for the fans. The fight was filled with twists and turns as both fighters attempted to gain the upper hand. Round 2 saw a change in Azim's approach as he tried to keep Reyes away with his jab. On the other hand, Reyes came out flying, looking to go big or go home with some big haymakers. However, this approach backfired as Reyes walked straight into one of Azim's shots, which sent him to the canvas. In Round 3, Reyes seemed to have recovered from the previous round's knockdown and Azim maintained his strategy of waiting for an opening. The gung-ho approach of Reyes seemed to have been put back in the locker for another day. Round 5 saw both fighters exchange jabs, with Reyes landing some shots that rocked Azim. When Azim allowed Reyes in close, he was capable of hitting him with big hits, but he needed to work on that. Round 6 saw Azim trying to come at Reyes more, looking to hurt him with big shots and combos. Reyes proved to be a tough opponent, able to take the hits and keep coming. This made the fight very open. In Round 7, Reyes caught Azim with a good left hand, which caught him off guard and rocked him back. However, Azim recovered quickly and laughed at Reyes, which might have given the South American fighter some confidence. Round 8 was the longest Azim had gone in a fight and he was still being cautious and biding his time. He landed some big body shots, but they didn't seem to be hurting Reyes, who was just absorbing his opponent's punches. For the final round, Azim started coming on the front foot, following his jab with big uppercuts. Unfortunately, they were missing their mark, but Reyes was able to take the blows when they landed. Despite having a couple of big swings, Reyes was unable to knock Azim down, and the fight ended with a unanimous decision in favor of Azim. In the post-fight interview with Sky Sports, Azim first took the time to address the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria and how we need to help the people in need. When asked about the fight, Azim stated that it was a hard fight and not many people would go up against someone who was 12-0. He also mentioned that he thought Reyes was done after the first shot he landed and that South American fighters are very tough. Overall, it was a great fight and both fighters put on a fantastic show for the fans.

Denzel Bentley, the reigning British middleweight champion, will defend his title against Kieran Smith on April 15th, as part of the undercard for the heavyweight showdown between Joe Joyce and Zhilei Zhang. The event will take place at the Copper Box Arena in London and will be broadcast live on BT Sport. Bentley, who fights out of the Peacock Gym, won back his Lonsdale belt in a vacant title fight against Linus Udofia, before successfully defending it against Marcus Morrison. His world title tilt against Janibek Alimkhanuly in November proved unsuccessful, but Bentley remains a formidable opponent. Smith, who hails from Scotland, has had a productive career as a super welterweight, including winning the WBC International Silver championship and making two successful defenses. However, his run came to a halt in April 2021 when he was stopped by Troy Williamson. Smith will now compete at middleweight in his upcoming bout against Bentley. In addition to the main event, the card will also feature a defense of the Commonwealth super bantamweight title by Dennis McCann, who won the title by defeating Joe Ham. McCann will also defend his WBC International Silver and Commonwealth lightweight titles, along with Queensberry iBox Gym teammate Sam Noakes. Young and up-and-coming fighters, Sonny Liston Ali and Joel Kodua, will also be featured in the undercard, in super lightweight and super welterweight bouts, respectively. Promoter Frank Warren says that the British middleweight title fight will be a great addition to the heavyweight collision between Joyce and Zhang. He added that there will be at least one more exciting addition to the card, and tickets will go on sale on February 15th. Warren is looking forward to seeing Bentley maintain his momentum in meaningful British title fights, while Smith intends to knock him off-course. With the inclusion of promising young fighters, the undercard of the Joyce-Zhang showdown is shaping up to be a thrilling event.

Ryan Bader, the current Bellator heavyweight champion, has a message for Francis Ngannou: he wants to fight. In a recent interview with The Schmo, Bader stated that Ngannou is one of the biggest names in the heavyweight division and that a fight between the two would be a "big, big fight." Ngannou is currently a free agent after his contract with the UFC expired, and Bader believes that Bellator would be the perfect place for the two to face off. Bader has been on a roll since joining Bellator in 2017, winning the light heavyweight title and then moving up to heavyweight to win that championship as well. He currently holds a record of 31-7 and is considered one of the top heavyweights in the world. Ngannou left the UFC because he allegedly declined a chance to be the highest-paid heavyweight in the company's history, as per UFC President Dana White. The former UFC heavyweight champion intends to finally pursue his long-held passion of being a boxer, however, Bellator heavyweight champion Bader wishes to welcome him if he decides to return to mixed martial arts. “If he turned that down with the UFC and all that, I think he’s going to box,” Bader told The Schmo. “You know, a lot of these guys get away from MMA, but they don’t have Tyson Fury calling them out, and he does. Bellator, we’d love to have him. (I) would love to fight him. So, it’s one of those things. We’ll see where he goes. Do I think he goes back into MMA? I don’t know. I really think he’s going to box. But if he does come to MMA, I’m the guy with the belt and we’ll be fighting.” At Bellator 290 on Saturday, Bader defeated retired veteran Fedor Emelianenko once more via first-round TKO to earn his third title defense. Ngannou hasn't engaged in combat in almost a year. In January 2022, he defeated Ciryl Gane in his last outing at UFC 270 which broke the French’s unbeaten run in promotion in his first title fight. Ngannou is preparing to make a comeback this year despite still being a free agent after having knee surgery just after the bout. A fight between Bader and Ngannou would be a true heavyweight showdown, with both fighters bringing their unique styles to the cage. Bader is known for his wrestling and ground-and-pound, while Ngannou is a knockout artist. It would be a battle of the wrestler vs. the striker, and fans would no doubt be excited to see who would come out on top. Bellator President Scott Coker has also expressed interest in bringing Ngannou to the promotion, and a fight between Bader and Ngannou would be a huge addition to the Bellator heavyweight division.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is expected to announce its next big event and it's set to be a showdown between two of the top light heavyweight contenders. On May 13, Anthony Smith and Johnny Walker will square off in the five-round main event, promising an explosive and thrilling match. Although the fighters have verbal terms and conditions, MMA Ideas initially stated that the destination and site for the clash have not yet been revealed. The reservation has since been confirmed by other news sources. With a record of 36 wins and 17 losses, Smith is a seasoned veteran of the octagon and a former title challenger. The Nebraska native is looking to make a statement and work his way back to a title shot. Jamahal Hill and Smith were supposed to compete in March, however, those preparations were abandoned as Hill agreed to compete in the UFC 283 championship versus Glover Teixeira. As in result, Smith assisted Hill in getting ready for the contest, which he went on to win by a wide margin to win the UFC light heavyweight championship. The former contender for the light heavyweight belt will be attempting to recover from a TKO loss to Magomed Ankalaev last year. Smith had been on a three-fight undefeated streak before the loss, during which he sustained a leg injury, having defeated Devin Clark, Jimmy Crute, and Ryan Spann. In a recent appearance at UFC 283, Johnny Walker defeated Paul Craig with a stunning first-round knockout. After defeating Craig and Ion Cutelaba, the 30-year-old Brazilian will look to extend his unbeaten record. Walker, the No. 7-ranked light heavyweight, is 3-2 in his previous five matches and, with a victory over Smith, may enter the title picture. This highly anticipated match will be a test for both fighters, as they look to prove their worth and climb the ranks of the light heavyweight division. The two fighters have different styles, which will make for an intriguing match-up. Smith's well-rounded game and grappling abilities will be put to the test against Walker's powerful striking and knockout power. Mark your calendars for May 13, as Anthony Smith and Johnny Walker are set to bring the heat in what promises to be an unforgettable night of UFC action.

UFC legend Jose Aldo is reportedly interested in fighting Hall of Fame boxer Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition match later this year. The former UFC featherweight champion, who just made a victorious professional boxing debut, revealed on Friday in Rio de Janeiro that he is in talks to fight unbeaten boxing champion Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition fight later this year. Aldo, who will join the UFC's 2023 Hall of Fame class, defeated Emmanuel Zambrano in his pro boxing debut on Friday by majority decision at Shooto Boxing. “It might be exhibition on [Mayweather’s] side, but not for me,” Aldo said. “It’s punch to the face like always. He knows that.” Aldo (31-8 MMA) is already scheduled to make his second boxing appearance on April 1 in a rematch with Jeremy Stephens at Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred Boxing 4 event. In the UFC in 2018, he previously defeated Stephens by way of first-round TKO. Since his retirement from boxing in 2017, Mayweather (50-0) has engaged in a lengthy tour of exhibition fights, competing against celebrities like Logan Paul, Tenshin Nasukawa, and influencer Deji Olatunji over the course of five fights. On February 25, he will compete in his next exhibition match against Bellator veteran and reality television personality Aaron Chalmers.

In Calvin Kattar's opinion, he ought to have faced Yair Rodriguez for the interim featherweight championship. Josh Emmett defeated Kattar (23-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC) in the main event of UFC on ESPN 37. He feels he prevailed in the fight. Emmett's fight against Rodriguez for the interim featherweight title, which co-features UFC 284 on Saturday at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, was scheduled after he defeated Kattar. After prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+, the main card is aired on pay-per-view. At UFC Fight Night 213, Kattar faced off against Arnold Allen, and he suffered yet another unfavorable result. He lost the bout through a technical knockout after tearing his ACL. “I feel like I stand with the majority in thinking I should be in there that night, and it is what it is,” Kattar told the media. “As far as being a fan watching that one, I might have to just get the update on what happens and not watch that one.” “I see Yair being the slight favorite kind of overall everywhere, wherever the fight goes,” Kattar said. “But Emmett’s been in the game for a while. He’s a power puncher. He lands a big shot. Anything could happen. I feel like both guys have wrestling that’s – neither one of them’s got the advantage, I don’t think, in that. “They’ve both got decent wrestling, so it’ll probably be a wash there. I think you give Yair the edge in the standup because he’s a little bit more dynamic with the strikes. But then again, Emmett’s got the power advantage maybe in that. So we just have to see how it plays out.” Kattar is no stranger to tough matchups, as he has faced some of the best fighters in the featherweight division. He recognizes the challenge that Rodriguez and Emmett will face in the ring, but is confident that they will bring their best and deliver an unforgettable performance. This highly anticipated bout between Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett has UFC fans buzzing with excitement. It promises to be a striking showcase, and Kattar, along with the rest of the MMA community, can't wait to see how it will play out. Will Rodriguez or Emmett emerge as the victor? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure, this is a fight that you won't want to miss.

Martin Bakole, a rising heavyweight in the boxing world, has set his sights on securing a mandatory title shot against Daniel Dubois. The Congolese fighter, known for his powerful punches, expressed his desire to face Dubois and prove his worth in the ring. Bakole, who has been making waves in the heavyweight division, believes he has what it takes to challenge Dubois and come out on top. He recognizes the talent and skills of his opponent, but is confident in his own abilities and feels that he is ready to take on the challenge. He is expected to become a lot busier in 2023 - after signing a promotional agreement with Ben Shalom's Boxxer. Shalom believes the WBA is close to ordering a Dubois vs. Bakole mandatory fight. "I think they're about to order a mandatory for Daniel, Martin wants that title. Martin is top of the tree in the WBA now," Shalom said to Sky Sports. "With his win against Tony Yoka, he was so impressive to go out and do that in Paris against a former Olympic champion. On the circuit he's possibly the most avoided heavyweight out there. Delighted to have him. I think he could challenge for world titles very soon." The heavyweight division is filled with talented fighters, but Bakole is determined to make his mark and become a household name in the boxing world. With a strong desire to prove himself, he aims to secure a mandatory shot at the title and face off against Dubole in the near future. This potential matchup has boxing fans on the edge of their seats, and it's a fight that could determine the future of the heavyweight division. Will Bakole rise to the occasion and secure his place among the elite? Or will Dubois continue to dominate the ring? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure - this is a bout that you won't want to miss.

Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier, two seasoned commentators, won't be at the desk for UFC 284, the second UFC pay-per-view of the year. Instead, former champions Michael Bisping and Dominick Cruz will serve as the colour commentators during the broadcast. The post-fight programme will be hosted by seasoned broadcaster Brendan Fitzgerald. Michael Chandler, Anthony Smith, a current contender for the light heavyweight belt, and Laura Sanko will all appear on the programme as analysts. Rogan frequently skips international events due to his hectic schedule, which is packed with standup comedy, podcasting, and other commitments. It is hardly surprising that the JRE host will miss this one given that UFC 284 will take place in Perth, Australia. Jon Anik will work as a play-by-play announcer alongside Bisping and Cruz. The Fight Night trio of Bisping, Cruz, and Anik will be calling a pay-per-view for the first time. Assisting as a travelling reporter will be Megan Olivi. Islam Makhachev, the newly crowned lightweight champion, will face Alexander Volkanovski, the current featherweight champion, in the main event of UFC 284. Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett square off for the division's replacement title in the interim 145-pound co-main event.